Snowboard Cross Crystal Globe winners to be crowned in Canada

After a season of hotly contested racing, the FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup winners will be determined this weekend in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Canada.

Newly crowned world champion Eliot Grondin (CAN) leads the men’s standings by a significant margin, while on the women’s side, Charlotte Bankes (GBR) holds a narrow advantage over Lea Casta (FRA) ahead of the final two races.

Qualification takes place on Friday 4 April, with finals at 11:00 local time (17:00 CEST) on both Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 April.

Grondin riding energy boost

Eliot Grondin went into last weekend’s World Championships as the overall World Cup leader, but he had never won the world title before. In an almost flawless day of racing in St. Moritz, the 23-year-old secured gold ahead of Loan Bozzolo (FRA) and Alessandro Haemmerle (AUT), giving him a boost of confidence ahead of the last two World Cup races.

“It's been amazing, I still don't think I realised what I achieved,” the Canadian says, a few days after his triumph.

The result continues what has been a strong season for Grondin as he seeks to retain the Crystal Globe he won in 2024. After finishing fourth in Cervinia in December he bounced back in the New Year for two wins in Beidahu.

He was fifth in Cortina d’Ampezzo , but second in Erzurum and third on day 1 in Gudauri following a crash in the big final. The second race in Gudauri did not go Grondin’s way either, as he was knocked out in the quarterfinals, and a mistake in the semifinal in Montafon saw him finish sixth overall.

However, Grondin’s overall consistency against stiff competition means he heads into Mont-Sainte-Anne with a lead of 141 points over second-placed Bozzolo.

Last year’s season closer, also in Mont-Sainte-Anne, saw Grondin wrap up the Crystal Globe with two victories, and he is hoping for more of the same this season.

“Mont-Sainte-Anne is a special one for me,” Grondin adds. “To be able to close out the season at home with my family and friends is amazing, especially after nearly three months in Europe. It definitely gives a boost of energy for the last two races.”

But Grondin needs to stay focused, as the chasing pack are within reach should the Canadian get knocked out of racing in the early stages. Bozzolo has reached three World Cup podiums this season, including his second career win, in addition to his World Championship silver medal.

2023 world champion Jakob Dusek (AUT) is less than 200 points behind Grondin, with 327, and the next five riders are split by less than 20 points, meaning competition in the top 10 is likely to go down to the last race.

Bankes under French pressure

After missing out on the knockout rounds on day 1 in Gudauri, and finishing third in Montafon in the most recent World Cup race, Charlotte Bankes’ grip on the women’s overall standings has narrowed significantly and the British athlete’s hopes for a third Crystal Globe – after 2022 and 2023 – rest on success in Canada.

Bankes has won five races this season, in addition to her third place in Montafon. But her closest rival, Lea Casta, has made seven podiums out of eight races including two victories, and is now just 17 points behind Bankes in the standings.

The racing this season has shown that on a good day, anyone can challenge the top riders. In Engadin last weekend one of the surprises was Canadian Meryeta Odine, who after making both small finals in Gudauri reached the World Championship big final.

“To be able to have my best result of the season at World Champs is great. I feel excited and a bit refreshed for the last World Cups,” Odine says, looking ahead to Mont-Sainte-Anne.

Overall, Odine is 15th in the standings with 149 points, the same number as compatriot Audrey McManiman, and just above fellow Canadian Tess Critchlow. She says she is determined to learn from the season’s results.

“I love what I do so much, the training, the ups and downs of competition. Most athletes are quite self critical, and I can fall victim to that when I look at where I currently stand in the World Cup overall,” she says. “I've been learning a lot this year about how I have to prepare and show up mentally.”

Odine wants to end on a high in front of Canadian crowds.

“I expect a big show for sure. There's heavy competition between all of the women, everyone is going to show up ready to continue their success or prove something.”

She adds: “I do enjoy racing at home. Even though we're about 4500 kilometers away from my home, it brings a very home-like feeling when you're able to have family around, and see your teammates’ families cheer them on."

Although Bankes (622 points) and Casta (605 points) are well in front of third-placed Julia Pereira de Sousa (FRA, 400 points) they will certainly face stiff competition from all of the women’s field for the final World Cup podium positions of the year. Michela Moioli (ITA), fresh off her maiden World Championship win, has made two World Cup podiums so far and sits in fifth place, while fourth-placed Josie Baff (AUS) has three podiums to her name this season.

The Crystal Globe could well depend on the last race of the year.

Facts & Figures

1: Crystal Globes previously won by men’s leader Eliot Grondin (CAN)
7: big finals reached and podium finishes by Lea Casta (FRA) in 2024-25
9th: the lowest Charlotte Bankes (GBR) has ever finished in the World Cup standings in 10 previous seasons on the tour

QUICK LINKS

Race Calendar
2024-25 Men's Cup Standings
2024-25 Women's Cup Standings
Start Lists - Mont-Sainte-Anne (CAN)
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